A SYSTEM FOR DRAWING WINNERS IN A LOTTERY

SYSTEME POUR DETERMINER LES GAGNANTS DANS UNE LOTERIE

English Abstract

System for use of a microprocessor for drawing of winners in a lottery with an
in advance given dividend, at which each
lottery ticket includes at least one counter of bingo type with a number in
rows and columns provided numbers as well as for the
lottery ticket unique identification. The identification of each lottery
ticket and number row of a counter are stored in a first
register which is readable by a microprocessor, that a number of number
sequences are created and stored in a second register which is
readable by a microprocessor, in such a way that each of the number sequences
is unique and gives a number of prize-winning
rows of numbers among the counters, which number corresponds to the given
dividend. One of the number sequences in the
second register is selected by a random draw. The microprocessor compares this
chosen number sequence with the number rows in
the first register and shows the identifications that indicate counters with a
prize-winning row of numbers.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un système permettant d'utiliser un microprocesseur pour le tirage de loterie avec un dividende donné à l'avance, chaque billet de loterie comprenant au moins une fiche de type loto avec des numéros en rangées ou colonnes ainsi qu'un indicatif unique du billet de loterie. L'indicatif de chaque billet de loterie et la rangée de chiffres de ladite fiche sont stockés dans un premier registre qui peut être lu par un microprocesseur, et un certain nombre de séquences de numéros sont créées et stockées dans un second registre lisible par un microprocesseur de façon que chaque séquence de numéros soit unique et donne un certain nombre de rangées de numéros gagnants parmi les fiches, ledit numéro correspondant au dividende donné. Une des séquences de numéros du second registre est sélectionnée par tirage au sort. Le microprocesseur compare cette séquence de numéros choisie aux rangées de numéros du premier registre et désigne les indicatifs qui indiquent les fiches présentant une rangée de numéros gagnants.

Claims

6

CLAIMS

1. A method for
(a) producing bingo type lottery tickets; each with a
unique counter comprising a quantity of different numbers
arranged in lines and columns and with a unique identity
for each ticket, and
(b) drawing randomly selected winners, according to an in
advance given dividend, using a microprocessor, and
(c) presenting the selected winning tickets,
characterized in
(d) that the identity and number lines of each lottery
ticket are stored in a first register which is
readable by the microprocessor,
(e) that the tickets are printed in accordance with
number data and identity data stored in said first
register,
(f) that a quantity of unique number sequences are
stored in a second register which is readable by
the microprocessor, corresponding to the in advance
given dividend,
(g) that one number sequence is selected by a random
draw among said stored number sequences in the
second register,
(h) that the selected number sequence from the second
register is compared by the microprocessor to the
number lines in the first register,
(i) that the number lines that comprise numbers in the
selected number sequence are sorted out by the
microprocessor, and
(h) that the tickets with the selected winning number
lines and their identity are presented.



7

2. A method according to claim 1,
characterized in that the numbers in the
randomly drawn number sequence are presented one by one in
a bingo-manner.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in, that the first register
contains all possible different number lines.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the first register
contains a selected quantity of number lines.

5. A method according to any of the claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the second register
comprises at least so many number sequences, that the
number sequences form a statistical distribution amount in
relation to the quantity of number lines.

6. A method according to any of preceding claims,
characterized in that each number sequence is
created with consideration to the quantity of number lines,
to the number of winners in the given dividend and to how
long the number sequence must be to indicate winning number
lines.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the ticket
includes the numbers 1-75, arranged in five columns,
characterized in that each number sequence is
created by means of the internal random number generator of
a computer, wherein a number of lists of random numbers are
generated to correspond to the number columns in the
ticket, with random mutual order of the numbers 1-15 in the
first list, 16-30 in the second list, 31-45 in the third
the list, 46-60 in the fourth list and 61-75 in the fifth
list, that a random number between one and five is




8

generated, which number determines in which list of random
numbers the last number shall be drawn, that one to five
numbers are drawn in each of the lists of random numbers by
means of a new random number between 1-15 for each draw,
which random number points onto a position in the current
list of random numbers, so that this position contains the
number that shall be used in the number sequence.

Description

WO 94/0373 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/SE92/00543
1
A System for Drawing Winners in a Lottery.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention refers to a system for use of a micro
processor at drawing of winners in a lottery with an in
advance given dividend, whereby each lottery ticket includes
at least one counter of bingo type with a number of numbers
provided in rows and columns as well as an identification
that is unique for the lottery ticket.
PRIOR ART
At conventional lotteries one simply draws prize tickets from
the total number of lottery tickets, until an in advance
givennumber of prize tickets has been obtained. The results
of such draws are published by means of lottery prize-list.
A disadvantage of usual lotteries is that the excitement
moment is short-lived.
Interactive games of bingo type engages the participants
considerably more and are therefore experienced as more
exciting. A problem at games of bingo type is that the random
draw of numbers gives an unpredictable dividend. It is true,
that the dividend in long-term can be statistically calcula-
ted, but the uncertainty is yet very big before each indivi-
dual draw.
THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The purpose of the invention is therefore to achieve a system
that makes it possible to achieve an in advance given divi
dend at games of bingo type.


WO 94/03873 PCT/SE92/0054,
21~r~~~
2
THE SOLUTTON
For this object the invention is characterized in that the
identification of each lottery ticket and number row of a
counter are stored in a first register which is readable by
a microprocessor, that a number of number sequences are ,
created and stored in a second register which is readable by
a microprocessor, in such a way that each of the number
sequences is unique and gives a number of prize-winning rows
of numbers among the counters, which number corresponds to
the given dividend, that one of the number sequences in the
second register is selected by a random draw, and that the
microprocessor compares this chosen number sequence with the
number rows in the first register and shows the identifica
tions that indicate counters with a prize-winning raw of
, numbers.
Advantageous variants of the invention are illustrated by
the subsequent subclaims.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The system according to the invent~n is based on the use of
the conventional bingo-counter for variation games. Normally
such a counter includes 75 numbers distributed in five co
lumns with 15 rows each, with numbers 1-15 in the first
column, 16-30 in the second column, 31-45 in the third co
lump, 46-60 in the fourth column, and 61-75 in the fifth
column. The invention is however not limited to this size,
but can be modified regarding the number of rows and columns.
There are a total of 50.625 different ways to combine a bingo
counter with 75 numbers in five columns. Each lottery ticket
includes at least one of these counters. It can manageably be
appropriate to use series of for example 10.000 lottery



~,~4~~~~
WO 94/03873 . PCT/SE92/005Q3
3
tickets per series. Then 10.000 of the total number of bingo
counters are selected. The counters are each printed and
provided with an identification number, so that every lottery
ticket in each series has a unique counter and a unique
identification number. If several series are present, for
example nine, there are therefore 90.000 lottery tickets with
nine identical counter series and 90.000 different lottery
ticket numbers.
Each lottery ticket number in a series consequently repre-
Bents a unique counter. The lottery ticket numbers~and their
respective counters are stored in a first register readable
by a microprocessor.
Before each draw the prize plan shall be known. OAe can for
example choose that there shall be 90 winners per 10.000
lottery tickets. The draw is carried out after finished sale
and before the presentation of the draw result. This presen-
tation may for example be carried out on TV, in s:.: ch a way
that it seems as if the draw, being of bingo character, is
done in the moment of broadcasting.'~The presentation can fur-
thermore be published in the daily press after the broad-
casting.
In a second register readable by a microprocessor, a number
of number sequences are stored, which include 17-20 different
numbers between 1 and 75. These number sequences are unique
and constructed such, that they give an exact number of
winners at the use, of 10:000 counters. To satisfy the demand
of randomness the number of number sequences for example may
include 2.000.
The draw is carried out by randomly selecting a number sequ-



WO 94103873 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ :) ~ PC~'>SE9B/005
4
ence among the mentioned 2.000 in the second register. Thus
it is entirely random sample that determines which 90 coun-
ters per series that is a winning one.
After this draw a computer run takes place in which the
selected number sequence is compared to the counters in the
first register. In this way prize lottery ticket numbers are
successively put together until all prize tickets in alI
series have been obtained.
It is now possible to carry out the presentation of the
selected number series, for example in live TV, in such a
way that the spectators may get the impression that the draw,
of bingo game character, occurs in the moment of broadcas-
ting .
The creation of number sequences is carried out by means of
random number generator in the computer. At first five lists
of random numbers (one per column) are genererated with
random mutual order of the numbers 1-15 in the first list,
16-30 in the second list, 31-45 i~ the third list, 46-60 in
the fourth list and 61-75 in the fifth list. Subsequently a
random number between one and five is genererated. This
number determines in which list of random numbers (column)
that the last number shall be drawn. Then a suitable number
of numbers in each of five lists of random numbers are drawn
by means of a new random number between 1-15 for each draw.
This random number points onto a position in the actual list
of random numbers. This position contains the number that
shall be used in the number sequence. In this way the func-
tion of random numbers of the computer is used twice to
obtain a drawn number..Furthermore it is provided that the
order among the numbers generated is mixed, so that not all



~~~ ~ ~5~
WO 94/3873 , PCT/SE92/00543
t:.:..:.:
numbers from the same column appear consecutively . The dis-
tribution of numbers from the different columns is done in an
appropriate way in relation to the number of winners, for
example a draw of three numbers in column 1, two numbers in
5 column 2, five numbers in column 3, one number in column 4
and three numbers in column 5 give a total of 90 winners.
In this way each number sequence is generated. The computer
is now used for going through and ascertain on which number
counters there is a horizontal line with five drawn numbers.
If the number of prize counters corresponds to the given
dividend this number sequence is accepted, in other case it
is rejected. In this way accepted number sequences are ge-
nererated until the numbers forma statistical d:lstribution
( number in relation to the number of lottery tickets in each
series.
After a finished lottery round the selected number sequence
is erased from the other register. A new .draw sequence is
instead created in the above described way, so that before
each lottery round there is always available the amount of
sequences determined in advance to choose among.
The system according to the invention is very flexible and
can easily be adapted to various average distributions of
dividend.
The invention is not limited to the above described embodi-
ments, but several variants are conceivable within the scope
of subsequent claims. For example counters with more or fewer
numbars than described above can be used.